3-2-1: The Magical Fours Framework for Desensitization

I. Manual therapy is graded exposure
Dry needling, soft tissue work, and gentle touch all dose the nervous system. A shared structure creates shared language.

II. Scale what you dose
Use 1 to 4 out of 10 intensity, 1 to 4 minutes per exposure, and 1 to 4 times per day based on tolerance. Minutes beat marathons.

III. Match touch to fiber
Light, pressure, thermal, and complex textures recruit different afferents. Expose the system to what it avoids and tolerance grows.

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I. Donald Hebb on neuroplasticity:
“Neurons that fire together wire together.”
Why it matters: repeated, tolerable inputs remap threat into safety.

II. Lao Tzu on progression:
“The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”
Why it matters: start at 1 out of 10, not 8. Small wins compound.

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Which touch category will let your patient succeed at a 1 out of 10 today, and how will you scale it to a 2 next week?

With care,

Team IPC